Barnes & Thornburg Welcomes New Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Barnes & Thornburg has added new corporate, intellectual property, international trade, litigation, and real estate attorneys and legal professionals to its Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., offices. 

An associate in the Indianapolis office, Lauren Aguilar advises clients on state and federal regulatory issues and disputes involving electric, natural gas, water, alternative energy, and wastewater utilities, and she works closely with the implementing agencies. She routinely drafts pleadings and related testimony, prepares witnesses, and has helped execute virtually all aspects of trial and settlement. Aguilar earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law in 2011 and her B.A. in environmental sciences and management from Michigan State University in 2008.

Luis Arandia, Jr., an associate in the Washington, D.C., office, represents importers and exporters before federal agencies that administer international trade regulations, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Census Bureau, the U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He earned his LL.M. in international business and economic law from Georgetown University Law Center in 2012, his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2011 and his B.A. in history from Rice University in 2006.

Alex Avtgis, a staff attorney in the Indianapolis office, is a litigation attorney who drafts briefs, motions, memoranda, and discovery; assists in preparation for depositions and trial at the state and federal levels; and conducts complex claim analyses for the negotiation of class action and multidistrict litigation settlements. Avtgis earned his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2017, his M.P.A. in policy analysis from Indiana University in 2017 and his A.B. from Wabash College in 2011.

As an of counsel in the Columbus office, Keely Daniels counsels investors, lenders and developers in a wide range of real estate financing matters including conventional and HUD-insured financings for the development or rehabilitation of low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) multifamily properties and the purchase and sale of various tax credit properties. She advises on asset management, compliance and corporate matters for currently operating and former affordable housing properties. Daniels earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2003 and her A.B. in economics from Princeton University in 1999.

Lauren Devereux focuses her litigation work on discovery, research and preparing pleadings and motions for state and federal court proceedings. A staff attorney in the Indianapolis office, she works closely with clients to understand the case and their needs, and aims to put them in the best position to successfully resolve disputes. Devereux earned her J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2019 and her B.A. in psychology from Indiana University in 2015.

Eric Hewlett, an associate in the Chicago office, practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation, white collar and investigations, and financial and regulatory litigation, among others. He has been involved in high-profile litigation matters and assists through the various stages of litigation. Hewlett earned his J.D. from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2019 and his B.S. in criminal justice and political science from Alabama A&M University in 2016.

Joshua Kalb, an of counsel in the Atlanta office, handles virtually all facets of patent, trademark, false advertising, and trade secret litigation, including day-to-day management of pre-suit investigations, discovery, claim construction, settlement negotiations, summary judgment, trial, arbitration, and appeals before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and in federal court. Kalb earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2005 and his B.A. in history and anthropology from the University of Florida, Gainesville in 2002.

As an associate in the Dallas office, Julie Klavan concentrates her practice on representing commercial real estate companies in a variety of commercial real estate sectors, such as multi-family, industrial, renewables and solar, office, retail, and improved and unimproved land development. Klavan earned her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2014 and her B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005.

Magdalena Lazarz, a paralegal in the Chicago office, reviews title, survey and loan documents, as well as non-disclosure and equipment lease purchase agreements. She drafts various contracts, mortgages, amendments, memos and legal correspondence; researches, prepares and files UCC statements; manages and updates client specific forms; and obtains FEIN numbers and good standings. Lazarz earned her paralegal certificate from the College of DuPage in 2019, her M.A. in psychology from National-Louis University in 2007 and her B.S. in criminal justice from Loyola University in 2003.

An of counsel in the Chicago office, Erin LeBlanc advises high net worth individuals, family offices and corporate fiduciaries and is dedicated to solving problems and providing practical solutions for her clients. She adapts to new situations while assisting clients with complex estate planning and probate matters. LeBlanc earned her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her B.A. in public relations and Spanish language and literature from Marquette University.

As an associate in the Indianapolis office, Mitchell Osterday participates in court hearings and proceedings, including protective order evidentiary hearings, pretrial and scheduling conferences, and case management conferences. A former judicial law clerk for the Hon. Steven David of the Indiana Supreme Court, he drafted various components of opinions, prepared legal memoranda breaking down complex procedural and substantive legal issues, and triaged a large number of cases each week by making disposition recommendations. Osterday earned his J.D. from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2016 and his B.A. in social studies education from Purdue University in 2012.

Amy Poyer, an of counsel in the Los Angeles office, has led significant impact litigation in both state and federal court, and has participated in state court appeals in the California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court, as well as federal appellate courts throughout the country, advocating on behalf of women and girls throughout the state. Poyer earned her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and her B.S. in applied mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

As an of counsel in the New York office, Gabriella Ripoll regularly drafts and negotiates commercial contracts and service agreements from both the supplier and purchaser sides, as well as distribution agreements, non-disclosure agreements, purchase orders, and intellectual property licenses and permissions. She earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2013 and her B.A. in political science and visual arts from Columbia University in 2010.

Frances Rivera-Medero, an of counsel in the New York office, has drafted limited liability company operating and partnership agreements, participated in restructurings and acquisitions, provided advice to individuals, small businesses and charitable and nonprofit organizations on federal, state and local tax issues, and obtained exempt status for certain organizations under federal and state taxing regulations. Rivera-Medero earned her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law in 2006, her J.D. from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2003 and her B.S. in physics from the University of Puerto Rico in 1999.

Quinn Thacker, a staff attorney in the Indianapolis office who practices intellectual property law, primarily advises trademark owners claiming infringement and those defending against such claims. She also works with clients on copyright and trade dress disputes and unfair competition matters. Thacker earned her J.D. from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2014 and her B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University in 2011.

An of counsel in the Chicago office, Caroline Upton focuses her practice on insurance recovery, counseling and representing corporate policyholders in a wide range of coverage disputes through mediation, arbitration and litigation. She represents companies, institutions, merchants, manufacturers, and other policyholders across the asset management, banking and financial services, commodities trading, energy and natural resources, gaming, healthcare and medical device manufacturing, and technology industries. Upton earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2014 and her B.A. in political science and Spanish from Allegheny College in 2010.

Dawn Weed, a paralegal in the Dallas office, assists clients with a range of commercial business disputes. She is responsible for managing caseloads and maintaining case files, as well as drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, notices, memorandum, and correspondence and related e-filings. Weed earned her B.A. in government from Centre College and attended the National Center for Paralegal Training.

An associate in the Chicago office, Kathryn Wilhoit concentrates her practice on insurance coverage and complex commercial litigation matters. She prepares motions and facilitates class actions arising from disputes, routinely attending and appearing for hearings. Wilhoit earned her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 2020, her B.A. in English from Georgetown University in 2017 and was a matriculated visiting student at the University of Oxford in 2016.

Ilana Zelener, an associate in the Dallas office, represents businesses, organizations, and individuals in commercial litigation matters and disputes. She advises on complex actions involving breach of contract and fiduciary duties, partnership disputes, and other general business contract and tort claims. Zelener earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 2016 and her B.A. in international studies from the University of California in 2011.

With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.